Military needs brain tissue for research

The United States Department of Defense opened a brand new brain tissue repository. The goal is to study the effects of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder on servicemen and women.

But, there is a problem. The repository, or Brain Bank, only has four brain specimens to study. It needs about 100 so researchers can start getting answers to why so many military veterans and active duty are committing suicide and struggling with depression.

The reason it only has four specimens is that not many servicemen and women know about the Brain Bank or know how to make sure their brain tissue gets to the research centers.

The Department of Defense does not permit staff to approach members of the military to consider brain tissue donation upon their death. Also, when a service member dies the DOD is not permitted to ask their next of kin for consent to harvest brain tissue for research.

Dr. Daniel Perl was hired by the Department of Defense to run the Brain Bank. He says the only real answers to the problem will come through research.

“I know how to do it. I can do it. I have all the tools now to do it,” said Perl.

“There's a state-of-the-art lab down the hall. I just need to fill it and I'll bring it home,” he said.

Joshua Caskey recently retired officially from the U.S. Marine Corps. He and his wife Kelly Caskey are raising their four children in Cranberry.

Caskey suffered a brain injury during his second tour in Iraq.

"One of the gates was left open,” said Caskey. "Nobody got a shot off. It just happened so quickly, it exploded. It killed three Iraqi policemen."

Shortly after the blast in his barracks from a suicide bomber, Caskey thought he was fine. When he returned home, he started to experience problems.

Kelly Caskey said, “We're going through a lot, we may look like a perfect family from the outside. But, we're really just trying to survive.”

Even though Josh Caskey is in college at Robert Morris University full time and getting good grades, he says every day is a struggle.

Kelly agrees. “The best days you get to see a glimpse of Josh. You hear him singing, he loves to sing,” said Kelly Caskey. “So, when he's singing you know it's an OK day.”

The worst days are difficult for her to talk about.

“The worst days I'm so terrified. I'm terrified if he's going to make it, if this is just too much for him,” she said.”

“You have to watch other people's responses. Is someone going to irritate him and it's going to set off his rage?” said Kelly Caskey.

Perl said veterans like Joshua Caskey can be helped by research started at the new Brain Bank. He wants to spread the word that the Brain Bank exists, so researchers can get the tissue they need to someday uncover treatments to help veterans who are suffering.

“The most important thing is to let the next of kin know this is my wish,” said Perl. “This is what I want to happen. And to make sure they know where to call and who to call.”

Kelly Caskey said the need for research is critical.

"I think that's what keeps anybody going who's been injured, or family member, caregiver, spouse of somebody who's been injured," she said. "You just have to hold onto hope, faith that things are going to be better, things are going to be OK."

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